Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh in Kolkata took the meeting with the officers of the department of animal husbandry, fisheries and dairying, West Bengal. The points of the discussion were following:
- Dairy Division
- During last two years (2014-15 and 2015-16), under National Gokul Mission and NPBB, projects costing of Rs. 29.8 crore were sanctioned and a sum of Rs. 8.50 crore was released out of which Utilization Certificates of Rs. 4 crore that is to say almost 85% are yet to be received.
- During the last two years National Dairy Development Scheme no proposal has been received from State Government. Therefore, proposal is expected from State Government soon.
- Only 29.50% animals have been covered in the state through artificial insemination. It is to be enhanced to 80%.
- Milk production per animal in the state is 44% lesser in comparison with the average production across the country. Therefore, more milching species are required so as to increase the production of milk. For this, West Bengal can increase its milk production from 48.08 lakh tonne per year to 75.00 lakh tonne per year.
- Under dairy development related entrepreneur assistance scheme by the year 2011-12 to 2014-15, 1693 applications have been received to establish dairy units with the subsidy from NABARD. During the year 2015-16, no application has been received by NABARD. State Government should take expeditious action for submission of applications in Rural Banks for the development of dairy sector in the state.
- National Livestock Mission
- A sum of Rs. 137.00 lakh is lying with the state unspent from the fund granted in 2014-15 under National Livestock Mission.
- Fisheries
- 16.32 lakh tonne fish are produced in West Bengal (15.12% of the entire country).
- DADF had released Rs. 19.47 crore during 2014-15 and 2015-16 out of which Utilization Certificates of Rs. 13.18 crore (67%) are yet to come from the state.
- Under newly sanctioned Blue Revolution Scheme, no proposal has been received from the State Government for the year 2016-17 till date.
- An assistance of Rs. 6092.65 lakh was released for the construction of Patwaghat Fishery Harbour. During 2015-16, last instalment of Rs. 465 lakh was released. It will provide landing and birthing facilities to nearly 450-500 big vessels and direct employment to nearly 10,000 to 12,000 people. Apart from this, nearly 20,000 to 25,000 people will get opportunities of indirect employment.
- During 2015-16, construction of 800 fishermen houses was approved. For this purpose, a sum of Rs. 115.69 lakh was released.
- Based on the previous proposals obtained by NFDB, the construction of wholesale and four retail fish markets has been sanctioned in 10 districts with the assistance of Rs. 22 crore. Alongwith this fishermen cooperatives have been given consent for 2024 mobile fish marketing vehicles.
- Under Fishermen Insurance Scheme, during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16, an insurance of 160000, 221563 and 221563 fishermen was done with a premium of Rs. 22.40 lakh for each year respectively.
- For furthering the process, the schemes related to aquaculture and brackishwater aquaculture need to be implemented.
- Livestock Health and Disease Control
- The diseases related to Khurpakka and Muhpakka (FMD) has been reported in West Bengal and their numbers are being recorded (as in 2012, 80 cases, in 2013, 38 cases and 2014-15, 13 cases had been registered). Necessary measures are to be taken for the prevention of the diseases so as to overpower them. Under ASCAD in the state, FMD vaccination is advised with strategic point of view in FMD prone districts. The state can also benefit under National Agriculture Development Scheme to control the outbreaks of FMD